Victim shows progress; shooting inquiry doesn't
By Augie Frost
Oklahoman Staff Writer
An investigation into the shooting of a 1-year-old girl more than four months ago in northeast Oklahoma City has stalled, but the girl is expected to recover fully, police said
The family of shooting victim Isjanna James has refused to cooperate with the investigation, making it harder to solve the case, police Sgt. Paco Balderrama said.
Isjanna was shot in the head about 2:30 a.m. Feb. 26 while sleeping in the front bedroom of a rental home at 4209 NE 16, police said.
The bullet entered the top of her head and exited through her left cheek, her family said in February.
She was taken in critical condition to OU Medical Center, where she underwent surgery.
She has slowly progressed, lead detective Bill Lord said.
"I think her prognosis is encouraging as far as a full recovery, from what I understand,” Lord said.
‘No new leads'
Despite numerous interviews, the case has gone cold. The case is still open, but "unfortunately there have been no new leads,” Lord said.
Police have dedicated a lot of resources to the case, and even Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater pleaded with the public to come forward, Lord said.
In early March, Prater held a news conference offering leniency on a pending charge to anyone with information on the shooting. The news conference did not yield the results police hoped for, Lord said.
"It's very frustrating. Very frustrating,” Lord said. "Any time anybody — but especially a kid — is shot, it's one that you really want to solve.”
The detective said he knows there is someone out there with information about the shooting, but they have not come forward.